Four-man bobsleigh battles for bronze

Bobsleigh champion Oskars Melbārdis led Latvia’s four-man bobsleigh team to another medal at Winterberg, Germany Sunday, allowing for a mistaken starting scrape against the opening wall on their third run that slowed them down overall against the home competition.

Germany’s teams took both gold and silver medals ahead of the Latvians. If the wobbly start hadn’t been the Latvians’ fastest yet in the white-knuckle competition, they might not have come in 0.05 seconds ahead of yet another German team, which took fourth place.

Head coach Sandis Prūsis said he wasn’t disappointed in the season, praising the suspense that was maintained throughout the competition stages to the very last run, and that the medal take has been a great achievement. He admitted that taking risks means making mistakes.

“That’s what happens in this type of sport when you go for the whole bank,” Prūsis told LSM’s sports observer, citing Melbārdis’ tremendous season, which saw him piloting the Latvian team to two world championship medals, plus World Cup championships in the two-man and four-man competitions.

“We erred big time on that start, but it happens,” said the captain himself, saying he was satisfied with his earned medals. Melbārdis’ crew fought back to the lead over Germany’s champion Maximilian Arndt after the second runs Saturday, but were unable to hold on to the lead Sunday. He tweeted his thanks for the season, writing that the fans' "good words and power were immeasurable!"